One-dimensional coupled model for large-deformation electroosmotic consolidation and heavy metal ion migration of silt

Dewatering and metal removal of silt can be obtained by applying electrokinetics. A coupled model for one-dimensional electroosmosis consolidation and ion migration, called ECT1, is proposed. It employs the piecewise linear finite difference method to simulate the ion migration and large-strain consolidation of soils under the coupling action of electric field, seepage field and chemical field, and to account for the nonlinear variation of physical and electro-chemical properties of soils, such as adsorption/desorption, neutralization/ionization, and precipitation/dissolution. The model is verified by Alshawabkeh's electrokinetic remediation experimental results for contaminated soil, numerical solutions and treatment tests on high-moisture content heavy metal-contaminated soil electrokinetic. The proposed model is applied to example studies to elucidate the coupling mechanism of heavy metal migration and consolidation in the electrokinetic treatment of high-moisture content contaminated silt.